Northern Ireland

Three arrests after crime spree across Down, Antrim and Armagh

Three men were arrested following a police pursuit after carrying out a crime spree across parts of Down, Antrim and Armagh. Picture by PSNI Craigavon/Facebook
Three men were arrested following a police pursuit after carrying out a crime spree across parts of Down, Antrim and Armagh. Picture by PSNI Craigavon/Facebook Three men were arrested following a police pursuit after carrying out a crime spree across parts of Down, Antrim and Armagh. Picture by PSNI Craigavon/Facebook

THREE men have been arrested after a crime spree across parts of Down, Antrim and Armagh.

In one of several incidents, the vehicle hit barriers at a level crossing on train tracks near Moira, resulting in a delay to services.

Police said that the first report was received at 11am yesterday morning of a vehicle being driven erratically in the vicinity of Lady Wallace Forge in Lisburn.

After the car was located at Sprucefield, it rammed the police vehicle and made off, crashing into barriers at the level crossing at Lisnabilla Road near Moira.

The vehicle was later discovered crashed on the Clarehill Road in Moira, with the three occupants making off across fields.

Police then received a report that another car, which was stolen as the result of a burglary in Donaghcloney, had been involved in a collision on the Lough Road roundabout in Lurgan.

The three suspects, aged 31, 32 and 37, were finally detained after assistance from the police helicopter and members of the public, and remained in police custody last night.

In a post on social media, the PSNI in Craigavon said that there were 20 linked incidents from the "cross-district rampage" and that the suspects were being questioned about more than 30 offences.

A police spokesman thanked members of the public for their help and added that it was "only by sheer good fortune that there were no serious injuries".

Police have appealed to anyone with information to contact officers on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.